Evaluation Study Project: BGF Health & Wellbeing Program in Western Sydney

Thank you for your interest in enrolling in our study 

‘Evaluation of the impacts of BGF’s Health and Wellbeing Programs on the quality of life of PWHIV residing in Greater Western Sydney’. 

Here is some additional information that will enable you to consider if this study will be of benefit to you. 

Who is BGF (Bobby Goldsmith Foundation)? 

The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable institution that provides support and services to PWHIV living in New South Wales and South Australia. The foundation is the longest serving community-based HIV charity in Australia having been founded in 1984 when friends of Bobby Goldsmith, a well know Australian swimmer who was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, rallied around him to provide support and dignity in his final days. Since then the organisation has gone on to assist hundreds of PWHIV with financial, practical and emotional support in many different ways. Today BGF delivers case work and case management, home care supports, financial counselling and health and wellbeing programs to hundreds of PWHIV. BGF’s mission is to assist PWHIV to thrive, with a particular focus on improving their quality of life. 

What is this study about? 

BGF delivers a range of health and wellbeing programs to its clients aimed at improving their quality of life. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs on improving the quality of life of people with HIV who live in the greater Western Sydney area. An assessment called PozQoL will be used to measure the extent to which the programs have improved your quality of life. Participation in the study is free and places you under no obligations. 

Am I eligible to take part in this study? 

To be eligible you will need to: 

• be HIV positive 

• live in greater Western Sydney 

• be 18 year of age or older 

• be able to communicate in English (written and spoken) 

• have a valid email address and a stable internet connection 

What am I required to do in the study? 

Once you enrol in the study, you will be required to complete a short assessment. This will be used to guide BGF to recommend two of five available programs that we believe will improve your quality of life. The programs offered include art therapy, yoga, money management, and two programs to improve your psychological health. Full details of the programs are outlined in the Participant Information Sheet which you can request. After every program session you attend you will receive a $5.00 voucher. Programs will be run in early 2025. 

Once you’ve completed your chosen programs you’ll be asked to complete another short assessment. After 10 weeks you’ll be asked to complete your final assessment. Each assessment (there are three) earns you a $5.00 voucher. 

You may also be asked to participate in a short survey. You will receive a voucher for doing so, if selected. 

What do I have to do next? 

If you are interested in enrolling in this study, simply send an email to study@bgf.org.au stating your name (first and last names). The BGF Study Coordinator will email you a Participant Information Sheet that outlines the study in greater detail. You will also receive a Consent Form to review before responding to it. Your consent to participate will be provided electronically via email. You can withdraw your consent to ongoing participation at any time. The data captured during your participation in the study will be confidential and anonymous. 

If you have any questions that the Participant Information Sheet and/or Consent Form raises, please feel free to contact the Study Coordinator via email at study@bgf.org.au. to discuss further. 

Thank you for your interest in this study.